Training Opportunities
- Threat Assessment

School Threat Assessment: Stopping the Threat Before it Strikes

According to a recent report from Moms Demand Action and Mayer Against Illegal Guns there have been 44 school shootings since the Sandy Hook Massacre and 13 of those occurred between January and February 10, 2014! It is clear from other recent national incidents of mass shootings that these type of incidents are not going away anytime soon. We can either choose to continue and hope that this type threat doesn't come to our communities or we can take a more proactive approach.... Threat Assessment Teams.

In my over 28 years of studying school shootings there is one statistic that is not publicized yet it is the most staggering statistic that I have been able to reveal. In all of the foiled school shooting plots that have occurred in this country, where a shooter's intent to conduct a school shooting or other type of fatal attack, not one has committed their act after being caught where law enforcement intervention occurred.

In other words, it is critical that we discover these plots before they occur through utilizing various means and Threat Assessment is one of the best tools available.

What is a Threat Assessment?

A school threat assessment analyzes communication and behaviors to determine whether or not a student, staff, or other person may pose a threat. These assessments must be based on fact, must comply with applicable privacy, civil rights, and other applicable laws, and are often conducted by multidisciplinary threat assessment teams.

Goals
1. To have the participant understand the basic principles of a threat assessment

2. To understand the Secret Serviceís National Threat Assessment Centerís 25 year study in collaboration with the Department of Education in completing the Safe Schoolís Initiative.

3. To identify students, staff, or other persons that may pose a threat before a threat develops into an incident and are referred for services, if appropriate.

4. To encourage the participant in developing, training and implementing a Threat Assessment Team for their school or institution.

Objectives
1. Define what a threat assessment is and understand why it is so important in preventing violence and possibly saving lives!

2. To understand the primary purpose and major functions of a threat assessment.

3. To review the Secret Serviceís Threat Assessment model for schools which was created after studying 37 school shootings involving 41 shooters over a 25 year period.